Local power generation firm Quezon Power Philippines Ltd. Co. (QPL) warned that next year’s power supply could be tight during the summer months.
Frank Thiel, managing director of QPL, said it is extra challenging for power plant operators as maintenance shutdowns have been deferred in the last two years due to quarantine restrictions for foreign technical experts.
“I think it’s going to be a very difficult summer. I think only one new power station has come into the energy mix in Luzon, up north, a 660 megawatts (MW) super critical coal power plant. Aside from that, there are no new power stations coming into the market,” Thiel said during the virtual Asian Power Thermal Energy Conference yesterday.
Thiel was referring to the 668 MW GN Power Dinginin unit 1 being developed by Aboitiz Power Corp. that is expected to be operational at the end of the month.
Thiel said as the economy reopens, power demand is expected to recover, while no significant amount of new capacity has been added to the grid and most plants did not have their proper maintenance shutdowns during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, QPL, which operates a 460 MW coal-fired power plant in Mauban, Quezon, has a planned maintenance shutdown next year that may last up to 45 days.
